Virunga Mountains
The Virunga Mountains are a chain of volcanoes in East Africa, along the northern border of Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda. The mountain range is a branch of the Albertine Rift Mountains, which border the western branch of the East African Rift. They are located between Lake Edward and Lake Kivu. The name "Virunga" is an English version of the Kinyarwanda word ibirunga, which means "volcanoes".
The mountain range consists of eight major volcanoes. Most of them are dormant, except Mount Nyiragongo 3,462 metres (11,358 ft) and Mount Nyamuragira 3,063 metres (10,049 ft), both in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Recent eruptions occurred in 2006, and in January, 2010. Mount Karisimbi at 4,507 metres (14,787 ft), is the highest volcano. The oldest mountain is Mount Sabyinyo which rises 3,634 metres (11,923 ft), above sea level.
The Virunga Mountains are home of the critically endangered mountain gorilla, listed on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species due to habitat loss, poaching, disease, and war (Butynski et al. 2003). The Karisoke Research Center, founded by Dian Fossey to observe gorillas in their native habitat, is located between Mount Karisimbi and Mount Bisoke.
List of mountains in the Virunga Mountain Range
| Name of mountain | Location | Elevation in Metres | Elevation in Feet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Karisimbi |  Rwanda /  DRC |
4,507 | 14,790 |
| Mount Mikeno | Democratic Republic of the Congo |
4,437 | 14,560 |
| Mount Muhabura | Rwanda /  Uganda |
4,127 | 13,540 |
| Mount Bisoke | Rwanda / DRC |
3,711 | 12,180 |
| Mount Sabyinyo | Rwanda / Uganda / DRC |
3,674 | 12,050 |
| Mount Gahinga | Rwanda / Uganda |
3,474 | 11,400 |
| Mount Nyiragongo | Democratic Republic of the Congo |
3,470 | 11,400 |
| Mount Nyamuragira | Democratic Republic of the Congo |
3,058 | 10,030 |
National Parks
- Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
- Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda
In culture
- Michael Crichton's novel Congo is set mostly in the Virunga region.
- Samba Mapangala, a Congolese-Kenyan musician, had a band called Orchestra Virunga.
See also
References
Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Mfumbiro". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Virunga Mountains. |
- The Official Virunga National Park Website
- Kwita Izina - Official Baby Gorilla Naming Ceremony site- Virunga Rwanda
- Map of Virunga mountains
Coordinates: 01°25′45″S 29°32′54″E / 1.42917°S 29.54833°E